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Statistical model for predicting the strength of solid‐filled rubbers
Author(s) -
Chen U. D.,
So H.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760292212
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , natural rubber , polybutadiene , ultimate tensile strength , curing (chemistry) , polymer , copolymer
The tensile strength of solid‐filled rubbers is predicted by the statistical model proposed in this paper, by which the maximum area fraction of the solid filler in a representative cube is calculated. The minimum net cross‐section area of the rubber matrix is thus obtained, and this is used to calculate the reduction in strength of the compound in comparison to that of the unfilled rubber. The prediction is then tested by experiments using hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) filled with glass spheres. After curing, tensile specimens were cut from sheets and exposed to humidity‐controlled environments so as to debond the filler particles from the rubber matrix, and were tested in tension. The experimental results were found consistent with the predictions.